Title 46 — Title 46 MOTOR VEHICLES

In addition to those powers and duties elsewhere granted, the chief of the Washington state patrol shall have the power and the duty to adopt, apply, and enforce such reasonable rules and regulations (1) relating to proper types of vehicles or combinations thereof for hauling pas…

(1) It is a traffic infraction for any person to drive or move, or for a vehicle owner to cause or knowingly permit to be driven or moved, on any highway any vehicle or combination of vehicles that:(a) Is in such unsafe condition as to endanger any person;(b) Is not at all times …

Every vehicle upon a highway within this state at any time from a half hour after sunset to a half hour before sunrise and at any other time when, due to insufficient light or unfavorable atmospheric conditions, persons and vehicles on the highway are not clearly discernible at a…

(1) Whenever requirement is hereinafter declared as to distance from which certain lamps and devices shall render objects visible or within which such lamps or devices shall be visible, said provisions shall apply during the times stated in RCW 46.37.020 in respect to a vehicle w…

(1) Every motor vehicle shall be equipped with at least two head lamps with at least one on each side of the front of the motor vehicle, which head lamps shall comply with the requirements and limitations set forth in this chapter.(2) Every head lamp upon every motor vehicle shal…

(1) After January 1, 1964, every motor vehicle, trailer, cargo extension, semitrailer, and pole trailer, and any other vehicle which is being drawn at the end of a combination of vehicles, shall be equipped with at least two tail lamps mounted on the rear, which, when lighted as …

(1) Every motor vehicle, trailer, semitrailer, and pole trailer shall carry on the rear, either as a part of the tail lamps or separately, two or more red reflectors meeting the requirements of this section: PROVIDED, HOWEVER, That vehicles of the types mentioned in RCW 46.37.090…

(1) After January 1, 1964, every motor vehicle, trailer, semitrailer, and pole trailer shall be equipped with two or more stop lamps meeting the requirements of RCW 46.37.200, except that passenger cars manufactured or assembled prior to January 1, 1964, shall be equipped with at…

Those sections of this chapter which follow immediately, including RCW 46.37.090, 46.37.100, 46.37.110, 46.37.120, and 46.37.130, relating to clearance lamps, marker lamps, and reflectors, shall apply as stated in said sections to vehicles of the type therein enumerated, namely b…

In addition to other equipment required in RCW 46.37.040, 46.37.050, 46.37.060, and 46.37.070, the following vehicles shall be equipped as herein stated under the conditions stated in RCW 46.37.080, and in addition, the reflectors elsewhere enumerated for such vehicles shall conf…

(1) Front clearance lamps and those marker lamps and reflectors mounted on the front or on the side near the front of a vehicle shall display or reflect an amber color.(2) Rear clearance lamps and those marker lamps and reflectors mounted on the rear or on the sides near the rear…

(1) Reflectors when required by RCW 46.37.090 shall be mounted at a height not less than twenty-four inches and not higher than sixty inches above the ground on which the vehicle stands, except that if the highest part of the permanent structure of the vehicle is less than twenty…

(1) Every reflector upon any vehicle referred to in RCW 46.37.090 shall be of such size and characteristics and so maintained as to be readily visible at nighttime from all distances within six hundred feet to one hundred feet from the vehicle when directly in front of lawful low…

Whenever motor and other vehicles are operated in combination during the time that lights are required, any lamp (except tail lamps) need not be lighted which, by reason of its location on a vehicle of the combination, would be obscured by another vehicle of the combination, but …

(1) On any vehicle having a load that extends more than four inches beyond its sides or more than four feet beyond its rear, there must be displayed red or orange fluorescent warning flags, not less than eighteen inches square, marking the extremities of such loads.(2) Whenever t…

(1) Every vehicle shall be equipped with one or more lamps, which, when lighted, shall display a white or amber light visible from a distance of one thousand feet to the front of the vehicle, and a red light visible from a distance of one thousand feet to the rear of the vehicle.…

(1) Every farm tractor and every self-propelled unit of farm equipment or implement of husbandry manufactured or assembled after January 1, 1970, shall be equipped with vehicular hazard warning lights of the type described in RCW 46.37.215 visible from a distance of not less than…

(1) Every vehicle, including animal-drawn vehicles and vehicles referred to in *RCW 46.37.010(3), not specifically required by the provisions of RCW 46.37.020 through 46.37.330 to be equipped with lamps, or other lighting devices, shall at all times specified in RCW 46.37.020 be …

(1) Spot lamps. Any motor vehicle may be equipped with not to exceed two spot lamps and every lighted spot lamp shall be so aimed and used that no part of the high intensity portion of the beam will strike the windshield, or any windows, mirror, or occupant of another vehicle in …

All fire department vehicles in service shall be identified by red lights of an intermittent flashing type, visible from both front and rear for a distance of 500 feet under normal atmospheric conditions. Such red flashing lights shall be well separated from the headlights so tha…

Firefighters, when approved by the chief of their respective service, shall be authorized to use a green light on the front of their private cars when on emergency duty only. Such green light shall be visible for a distance of two hundred feet under normal atmospheric conditions …

(1) No private vehicle, bearing a sign or plate indicating a fire department connection, shall be driven or operated on any public highway, except when the owner thereof is a bona fide member of a fire department.(2) Any sign or plate indicating fire department connection on a pr…

Any individual displaying a green light as authorized in RCW 46.37.185, or a sign or plate as authorized in RCW 46.37.186, shall also carry attached to a convenient location on the private vehicle to which the green light or sign or plate is attached, an identification card showi…

Every violation of RCW 46.37.184, 46.37.185, 46.37.186, or 46.37.187 is a traffic infraction.[ 1979 ex.s. c 136 s 70; 1961 c 12 s 46.37.188. Prior: 1953 c 161 s 5. Formerly RCW 46.40.260.]Notes:Effective date—Severability—1979 ex.s. c 136: See notes following RCW 46.63.010.

(1) Every authorized emergency vehicle and organ transport vehicle shall, in addition to any other equipment and distinctive marking required by this chapter, be equipped with at least one lamp capable of displaying a red light visible from at least 500 feet in normal sunlight an…

The state patrol shall adopt rules to implement RCW 46.37.190.[ 1993 c 401 s 3.]

Every school bus and private carrier bus, in addition to any other equipment or distinctive markings required by this chapter, shall bear upon the front and rear thereof, above the windows thereof, plainly visible signs containing only the words "school bus" on a school bus and o…

The state patrol may make rules and regulations relating to authorized emergency vehicles and shall test and approve sirens and emergency vehicle lamps to be used on such vehicles. The equipment and standards review unit shall require a record check of all applicants and drivers …

(1) Except as provided in subsection (2) of this section, a public agency, business, entity, or person shall not sell or give emergency vehicle lighting equipment or other equipment to a person who may not lawfully operate the lighting equipment or other equipment on the public s…

All emergency tow trucks shall be identified by an intermittent or revolving red light capable of 360 degree visibility at a distance of 500 feet under normal atmospheric conditions. The emergency tow trucks may also operate rear facing blue lights for use only at the scene of an…

(1) Any vehicle may be equipped and when required under this chapter shall be equipped with a stop lamp or lamps on the rear of the vehicle which shall display a red or amber light, or any shade of color between red and amber, visible from a distance of not less than one hundred …

(1) Any motor vehicle may be equipped with not more than two side cowl or fender lamps which shall emit an amber or white light without glare.(2) Any motor vehicle may be equipped with not more than one running-board courtesy lamp on each side thereof which shall emit a white or …

(1) Any vehicle may be equipped with lamps for the purpose of warning other operators of other vehicles of the presence of a vehicular traffic hazard requiring the exercise of unusual care in approaching, overtaking, or passing.(2) After June 1, 1978, every motor home, bus, truck…

Except as hereinafter provided, the head lamps or the auxiliary driving lamp or the auxiliary passing lamp or combination thereof on motor vehicles shall be so arranged that the driver may select at will between distributions of light projected to different elevations, and such l…

(1) Whenever a motor vehicle is being operated on a roadway or shoulder adjacent thereto during the times specified in RCW 46.37.020, the driver shall use a distribution of light, or composite beam, directed high enough and of sufficient intensity to reveal persons and vehicles a…

Head lamp systems which provide only a single distribution of light shall be permitted on all farm tractors regardless of date of manufacture, and on all other motor vehicles manufactured and sold prior to one year after March 18, 1955, in lieu of multiple-beam road-lighting equi…

Any motor vehicle may be operated under the conditions specified in RCW 46.37.020 when equipped with two lighted lamps upon the front thereof capable of revealing persons and objects one hundred feet ahead in lieu of lamps required in RCW 46.37.220 or 46.37.240: PROVIDED, HOWEVER…

(1) At all times specified in RCW 46.37.020, at least two lighted lamps shall be displayed, one on each side at the front of every motor vehicle, except when such vehicle is parked subject to the regulations governing lights on parked vehicles.(2) Whenever a motor vehicle equippe…

(1) During the times specified in RCW 46.37.020, any lighted lamp or illuminating device upon a motor vehicle, other than head lamps, spot lamps, auxiliary lamps, flashing turn signals, emergency vehicle warning lamps, warning lamps authorized by the state patrol and school bus w…

The chief of the Washington state patrol is authorized to adopt standards and specifications applicable to lighting equipment on and special warning devices to be carried by school buses and private carrier buses consistent with the provisions of this chapter, but supplemental th…

(1) The state patrol shall adopt standards and specifications applicable to head lamps, clearance lamps, identification and other lamps on snow-removal and other highway maintenance and service equipment when operated on the highways of this state in lieu of the lamps otherwise r…

(1) No person may have for sale, sell, or offer for sale for use upon or as a part of the equipment of a motor vehicle, trailer, or semitrailer, or use upon any such vehicle any head lamp, auxiliary or fog lamp, rear lamp, signal lamp, or reflector, which reflector is required un…

(1) The chief of the state patrol is hereby authorized to adopt and enforce rules establishing standards and specifications governing the performance of lighting devices and their installation, adjustment, and aiming, when in use on motor vehicles, and other safety equipment, com…

(1) When the state patrol has reason to believe that an approved device does not comply with the requirements of this chapter or regulations issued by the state patrol, it may, after giving thirty days' previous notice to the person holding the certificate of approval for such de…

Every motor vehicle, trailer, semitrailer, and pole trailer, and any combination of such vehicle operating upon a highway within this state shall be equipped with brakes in compliance with the requirements of this chapter.(1) Service brakes—adequacy. Every such vehicle and combin…

Every motor vehicle and combination of vehicles, at all times and under all conditions of loading, upon application of the service brakes, shall be capable of:(1) Developing a braking force that is not less than the percentage of its gross weight tabulated herein for its classifi…

(1) All brakes shall be maintained in good working order and shall be so adjusted as to operate as equally as practicable with respect to the front and back wheels and to wheels on opposite sides of the vehicle.(2) All passenger cars manufactured on or after January 1, 1968, and …

(1) The term "hydraulic brake fluid" as used in this section shall mean the liquid medium through which force is transmitted to the brakes in the hydraulic brake system of a vehicle.(2) Hydraulic brake fluid shall be distributed and serviced with due regard for the safety of the …

(1) No vehicle shall be equipped with wheel nuts, hub caps, or wheel discs extending outside the body of the vehicle when viewed from directly above which:(a) Incorporate winged projections; or(b) Constitute a hazard to pedestrians and cyclists.For the purposes of this section, a…

(1) Construction of steering control system. The steering control system shall be constructed and maintained so that no components or attachments, including horn activating mechanism and trim hardware, can catch the driver's clothing or jewelry during normal driving maneuvers.(2)…